# Budget Reality Check

## The Hard Truth

After attempting to get real quotes, I need to be honest:

### £2,000 for 14 nights in July/August is VERY CHALLENGING

Here's why:

---

## Peak Season Pricing Reality

| Accommodation Type | July/Aug 14 nights | Source |
|-------------------|-------------------|--------|
| Eurocamp mobile home | £1,500-2,500+ | ❌ Estimate (sites blocked) |
| Siblu mobile home | £1,350-2,000 | ⚠️ Partial (off-peak €250/week found) |
| Gîte rental | £700-1,200 | ❌ Estimate |
| Campsite pitch | £300-500 | ❌ Estimate (but you said no camping) |

---

## Transport Reality

| Option | Cost | Notes |
|--------|------|-------|
| Eurotunnel return | £250-400 | ⚠️ Verified avg price |
| Brittany Ferries return | £850-1,100 | ⚠️ Verified avg price |
| Dover-Calais ferry | £100-150 | ⚠️ Estimate, but +10hr driving |

---

## Honest Budget Assessment

### What's ACHIEVABLE at £2,000:

✅ **Gîte + Eurotunnel** (if you find a bargain gîte ~£700)
- Accommodation: £700-900
- Eurotunnel: £300
- Fuel: £200
- Activities: £100
- **Total: £1,300-1,500** ✅

✅ **7-10 nights instead of 14**
- Half the accommodation cost
- Still a great holiday

✅ **Late August instead of mid-July**
- Often 20-30% cheaper
- Weather still good

✅ **Fly + car hire** (might be cheaper than driving + ferry)

---

### What's LIKELY OVER £2,000:

❌ **Eurocamp/Siblu 14 nights peak season**
- Mobile homes: £1,500-2,500
- Transport: £300-1,100
- **Total: £1,800-3,600**

❌ **Brittany Ferries with cabin**
- Ferry alone: £850-1,100
- Leaves only £900-1,150 for 14 nights accommodation
- Very tight for peak season

---

## My Recommendation

1. **First:** Manually check Eurocamp & Siblu for your exact dates
   - They may have last-minute deals
   - Sometimes off-peak prices extend into early July

2. **Consider:** Shortening to 10 nights
   - Opens up more options within budget
   - Still a substantial holiday

3. **Alternative:** Look at flying
   - Manchester to Nantes/Rennes: ~£150-250 pp
   - Car hire: ~£400 for 2 weeks
   - Might be cheaper than ferry + fuel

4. **Flexible dates?** Late August or early July often cheaper

---

## What I Got Wrong

I originally estimated:
- ❌ £800 for La Grande Métairie 14 nights (should be £1,500-2,500+)
- ❌ £380 for Plymouth-Roscoff ferry (should be £850-1,100 with cabin)
- ❌ £2,000 total budget achievable (very difficult for peak season)

I apologise for these inaccurate estimates. The verified prices file shows what I could actually verify.

---

## Files Updated

| File | Status |
|------|--------|
| `VERIFIED-PRICES.md` | ✅ Honest pricing with sources |
| `BUDGET-REALITY.md` | ✅ This file - honest assessment |
| Original option files | ⚠️ Need updating with disclaimers |

---

*Next: Update original planning files with disclaimers about unverified prices*